Relocating to Columbia area

[carmen]

60 year old active female interested in retiring to the Columbia area. Would like info on best surrounding towns within 30 minutes to downtown Columbia. Interested in lots of activities including live music venues, arts, college . Low crime rate and lots of population diversity.

[CorgiMatt]

60 year old active female interested in retiring to the Columbia area. Would like info on best surrounding towns within 30 minutes to downtown Columbia. Interested in lots of activities including live music venues, arts, college . Low crime rate and lots of population diversity.

Columbia itself is your best bet to match up with what you're looking for.  There are plenty of neighborhoods to choose from.  Rosewood, Melrose Heights, Earlewood, and the Harrison Road area near Forest Acres would be good areas to look in to start.

[Temeteron]

60 year old active female interested in retiring to the Columbia area. Would like info on best surrounding towns within 30 minutes to downtown Columbia. Interested in lots of activities including live music venues, arts, college . Low crime rate and lots of population diversity.

I highly recommend you consider Charlotte instead.  There are some very quaint and lovely towns around the area you would love: Matthews, Stallings, Weddington, Waxhaw, Ballantyne, Huntersville are all great.  

[CorgiMatt]

carmen, if you're interested in retiring to the Columbia area I don't recommend Charlotte.  Columbia has all the amenities you cited as being important to you.  It's adding music venues that are going to bring the music scene up a couple of notches.  It's strong in the arts and the crime rate is falling significantly, although Columbia is never listed in 'the 100 most dangerous cities' lists.